Natural numbers, also called counting numbers, are the numbers used for counting things. Sometimes the special number zero is called a natural number. Sometimes one is called the smallest natural number. Natural numbers are always whole numbers (integers) and never less than zero.

There is no largest natural number. The next natural number can be found by adding 1 to the current natural number, producing numbers that go on "for ever". There is no infinite natural number. Any natural number can be reached by adding 1 enough times to the smallest natural number.